V-shaped stake

ABSTRACT

A stake for use with a concrete form is provided including an elongated V-shaped member formed of a first leg and a second leg joined along a longitudinal bend. Each of the legs has a series of nail holes formed therein. The nail holes in the first leg are offset longitudinally from the nail holes in the second leg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a stake, and in particular, a stake used in conjunction with a concrete finishing form.

Various stake constructions are known in the art, and generally they comprise an elongated member which may be designed to be pushed or driven into the ground, and used for securing some other thing in a fixed or stable position. Stakes are used in connection with concrete finishing forms, and are used to secure the concrete forms in place while concrete is poured to abut against the form, and to hold the form in a fixed and stable position while the concrete cures. Typically these stakes are formed with a particular shape or configuration to interact with other support members or to interact with and lock to portions of the forms themselves.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,635,320 discloses a v-shaped stake for use with a concrete form which has two legs formed at approximately ninety degrees to one another. In one leg are a series of nail holes for use in securing the stake to the wooden planks forming the form, and in the other leg are a series of apertures for engaging with a locking lug of a cross brace. The stake is designed to have the first leg lie flat against the wooden plank, and nails are to be driven into the plank through the nail holes, generally perpendicular to the surface of the plank.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,889 discloses a stake for a concrete form which is formed of stamped sheet metal having a center web portion, two perpendicular side walls and two outer coplanar flanges. The center web portion contains a series of nail holes, and the stake is to be nailed to a form plank with nails driven into the plank through the nail holes, generally perpendicular to the surface of the plank, with the flanges spaced away from the surface of the plank. A bracket is carried on the flanges to support a further timber piece.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,721 discloses a stake for a concrete form which is formed with a bowed center portion and two coplanar flange portions. Nail holes are provided in the bowed center portion to receive nails to be driven into the concrete form perpendicular to the surface of the form.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,062 discloses a multi-purpose stake which is formed in a V or U shape, with coplanar flanges at an outer edge of the side legs. A series of nail holes are provided in the spine or bight portion of the stake for receiving nails to be driven into a concrete form, perpendicular to the surface of the form.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,640,739 discloses a v-shaped stake for a concrete form in which the v-shape of the stake fits within a triangular opening of a bearing plate for the stake. Notches on the edge of one of the legs of the stake engage with the plate to prevent downward vertical motion of the stake relative to the ground, once the stake has been properly driven into the ground. A clamp arrangement carried on the concrete form clampingly engages one of the legs of the stake to secure the stake to the form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a stake for use with a concrete form comprising an elongated V-shaped member formed of a first leg and a second leg joined along a longitudinal bend, each of the legs having a series of nail holes formed therein, the nail holes in the first leg being offset longitudinally from the nail holes in the second leg.

In an embodiment, a top end of the member is formed by an edge oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal bend and a bottom end of the member is formed by a tapered end of the legs.

In an embodiment, a horizontal notch is formed in the longitudinal bend and extends into each of the legs, the horizontal notch being located closer to the top end than the bottom end.

In an embodiment, the first and second legs have an identical width.

In an embodiment, the first end second legs terminate laterally at a distal edge and the two distal edges and the bend define points on a circle of a diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.

In an embodiment, the legs have an angle therebetween of between about 30 degrees to 150 degrees.

In an embodiment, the stake has a length of between approximately 8 and 36 inches.

In an embodiment, the stake has at least 4 nail holes formed in each leg.

In an embodiment, the notch has a height large enough to receive a head of a nail used in the nail holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a stake embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top end elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1 attached to a concrete form with cross-driven nails.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the stake with a possible removal method utilizing a claw hammer.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the stake with a possible removal method utilizing a wire twister tool.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the stake being utilized as a nail removing tool.

FIG. 6 is a top end elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1 attached to a concrete form with a nail as a flat stake.

FIG. 7 is a top end elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1 attached to a concrete form with a stake pocket and a wedge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in the Figures, the present invention provides a stake 20 for use with a concrete form 22 which may be made of wood, steel, plastic or other materials. The stake 20 comprises an elongated V-shaped member 26 formed of a first leg 28 and a second leg 30 joined along a longitudinal bend 32. Each of the legs 28, 30 has a series of nail holes 34 formed therein. The nail holes 34 in the first leg 28 may be offset longitudinally from the nail holes in the second leg 30 to provide a staggered arrangement of holes as shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, this allows the stake 20 to be attached to the concrete form 22 by means of nails 36 that are cross-driven into the form, providing an attachment of the stake to the form that is more secure than the nailing of a series of nails in a parallel or linear orientation, such as perpendicular to a face 38 of the form. With the nails 36 driven in at opposed angles to the face 38 of the form 22, and with the nails crossing along their length, the strength of the attachment of the stake to the form is increased over prior constructions.

In an embodiment, the stake 20 has at least 4 nail holes formed in each leg 28, 30. This will allow the user to drive a nail 36 in at least one of any of eight different height locations. Such flexibility will accommodate a wide range of driven depths of the stake 20 and heights of the form 22 to be secured by the stake. In an embodiment, the stake 20 has a length of between approximately 8 and 36 inches, although the stake could be shorter or longer than this range depending on the depth that the stake is to be driven at a particular location and the height of the form 22 being used.

In an embodiment, a top end 40 of the member 24 is formed by an edge 42 oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal bend 32 and a bottom end 44 of the member is formed by a tapered end 45 of the legs 28, 30. With such a construction, the top edge 42 presents a surface for engagement of a driving tool, and the bottom end 44 allows for easier entry of the stake 20 into the ground.

In an embodiment, a horizontal notch 46 is formed in the longitudinal bend 32 and extends into each of the legs 28, 30. The horizontal notch 46 may be located closer to the top end 40 than the bottom end 44. The horizontal notch 46 may be used as an attachment point for a tool used in removing the stake 20 from the ground. As shown in FIG. 3, a claw hammer 48 may be used, with one of the claws 50 engaging in the notch 46 and a vertical pulling force exerted by the hammer as indicated by arrow 51. As shown in FIG. 4, a wire twister tool 52 may be used, with an end 54 of the tool engaging in the notch 46 and a vertical pulling force exerted by the tool as indicated by arrow 55.

In an embodiment, the notch 46 has a height 56 (FIG. 1) large enough to receive a head 58 of the nail 36 used in the nail holes 34. As shown in FIG. 5, this will allow the stake 20 to be used as a tool for removing the nails 36 used to hold the stakes to the form 22. Typically double headed nails 36 are used since the nails are intended to be removed after the concrete has cured.

Although FIG. 2 shows the stake 20 being nailed to the form 22 with the distal edges 62, 64 of the legs 28, 30 engaging the face 38 of the form, and with the bend 32 positioned away from the form, the stake may also be attached to the form oriented as a flat stake as illustrated in FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the legs 28, 30 have an angle A (FIG. 8) therebetween of between about 30 degrees to 150 degrees. This allows the nail 36 to be driven into the stake 20 with one of the legs and the bend 32 pressed against the face 38 of the form and the other of the legs extending away from the form. Such a possibility adds versatility to the stake, allowing it to be attached in different orientations, as a particular situation might require.

In an embodiment, the first 28 and second 30 legs have an identical width and the two distal edges 62, 64 and the bend 32 define points on a circle 65 (FIG. 8) of a diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 inches. This allows the stake 20 to be used in conjunction with a stake pocket 66 and wedge 68, as shown in FIG. 7. Such stake pockets 66 and wedges 68 are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,866,239 and 6,629,681, which are incorporated herein by reference. Thus the stake 20 can be used in lieu of a round steel stake (typically having a diameter of between ¾ and ⅞ inches) normally used with stake pockets 66, thereby greatly reducing the weight of the stakes necessary to complete a particular concrete pour. The v-shape of the stake 20 provides the strength necessary to allow the stake to replace much heavier solid round stakes.

The stake 20 may be formed from a variety of materials, and may be made of stamped steel, with a galvanized coating to prevent rust and to extend the life of the stake.

Thus, the stake 20 of the present invention can be used with different types of forms 22, such as wooden forms where the stakes are nailed directly to the forms, or metal or plastic forms where the stakes may be attached to the forms via stake pockets. The stakes 20 can be nailed to the forms 22 with nails 36 driven at crosses orientations, or as a flat stake with the nails driven substantially perpendicular to the form face 38. Further, the stake 20 can replace a heavier round stake when used with stake pockets 66 or other stake engaging brackets. By having a single stake 20 useable with a variety of different types of forms 22 that may be used on different concrete pours, the user can reduce the inventory of stakes needed since this one stake can be used on several different types of forms, and can be attached in several different orientations.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art. 

1. A stake for use with a concrete form comprising; an elongated V-shaped member formed of a first leg and a second leg joined along a longitudinal bend and having an angle therebetween of between about 30 degrees to 150 degrees, a top end of said member formed by an edge oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal bend and a bottom end of said member formed by a tapered end of said legs, each of said legs having a series of nail holes formed therein, said nail holes in said first leg being offset longitudinally from said nail holes in said second leg, a horizontal notch being formed in said longitudinal bend and extending into each of said legs, said horizontal notch being located closer to said top end than said bottom end, said first and second legs having an identical width, said first end second legs terminating laterally at a distal edge, said two distal edges and said bend defining points on a circle of a diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.
 2. A stake according to claim 1, wherein said stake has a length of between approximately 8 and 36 inches.
 3. A stake according to claim 1, wherein said stake has at least 4 nail holes formed in each leg.
 4. A stake according to claim 1, wherein said notch has a height large enough to receive a head of a nail used in said nail holes.
 5. A stake for use with a concrete form comprising; an elongated V-shaped member formed of a first leg and a second leg joined along a longitudinal bend, each of said legs having a series of nail holes formed therein, said nail holes in said first leg being offset longitudinally from said nail holes in said second leg.
 6. A stake according to claim 5, wherein a top end of said member is formed by an edge oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal bend and a bottom end of said member formed by a tapered end of said legs.
 7. A stake according to claim 6, wherein a horizontal notch is formed in said longitudinal bend and extends into each of said legs, said horizontal notch being located closer to said top end than said bottom end.
 8. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said first and second legs have an identical width.
 9. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said first end second legs terminate laterally at a distal edge, said two distal edges and said bend defining points on a circle of a diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.
 10. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said legs have an angle therebetween of between about 30 degrees to 150 degrees.
 11. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said stake has a length of between approximately 8 and 36 inches.
 12. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said stake has at least 4 nail holes formed in each leg.
 13. A stake according to claim 5, wherein said notch has a height large enough to receive a head of a nail used in said nail holes.
 14. A stake for use with a concrete form comprising; an elongated V-shaped member formed of a first leg and a second leg joined along a longitudinal bend and having an angle therebetween of between about 30 degrees to 150 degrees, a top end of said member formed by an edge oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal bend and a bottom end of said member formed by a tapered end of said legs, and a horizontal notch formed in said longitudinal bend extending into each of said legs, said horizontal notch being located closer to said top end than said bottom end.
 15. A stake according to claim 14, wherein each of said legs has a series of nail holes formed therein, said nail holes in said first leg being offset longitudinally from said nail holes in said second leg.
 16. A stake according to claim 14, wherein said first and second legs have an identical width.
 17. A stake according to claim 14, wherein said first end second legs terminate laterally at a distal edge, said two distal edges and said bend defining points on a circle of a diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.
 18. A stake according to claim 14, wherein said stake has a length of between approximately 8 and 36 inches.
 19. A stake according to claim 14, wherein said stake has at least 4 nail holes formed in each leg.
 20. A stake according to claim 14, wherein said notch has a height large enough to receive a head of a nail used in said nail holes. 